Sauces recipes

Yum Hoi Mang-Pu, a Thai mussel salad tossed with lemongrass, shallots, fresh mint, fiery bird's-eye chilies, lime juice, and fish sauce. Crisp, fiery, and sour, served over lettuce as a starter.

Oven-barbecued beef short ribs, marinated in soy and cider vinegar, braised fork-tender, then basted with barbecue sauce and roasted until sticky and well browned. Fall-off-the-bone ribs, no grill required.

Hearty chicken soup simmered with white wine, tomato sauce, potatoes, carrots, and green pepper. A whole chicken boiled tender and chunked back into a rich, veggie-loaded broth. Serve with garlic bread for a full meal.

A 9-pound beef brisket smothered in a brown sugar and tomato paste sauce, wrapped in foil, and oven-braised for 5 hours until fork-tender. Shred it and pile it on buns for a crowd.

A smoky chili-cumin dry rub with brown sugar and garlic coats both grilled pork tenderloin and chicken breasts, sliced onto one platter with a bright orange-pineapple sauce. A make-ahead crowd-pleaser.

Vinegared sushi rice (sushi-meshi): short-grain rice cooked with kombu and dressed with a rice vinegar, mirin, and sugar seasoning. The essential base for sushi, chirashi, and temaki.

Quick microwave chili con queso dip with sharp cheddar cheese spread, fresh tomato, and green chiles. A Tex-Mex chip dip ready in under 10 minutes.

Baked Italian chicken sticks marinated in tomato juice and oregano, coated in seasoned breadcrumbs, and oven-crisped without frying. No egg wash needed, just a tomato juice trick for crunch.

Creamy green herb dip made with fresh spinach, parsley, watercress, sour cream, and garlic. Serve chilled with a rustic spread of raw and boiled vegetables for a vibrant, make-ahead appetizer.

Mexican red rice with roasted red bell pepper, jalapeno, and chicken broth. The roasted pepper puree gives it a smoky, vibrant red color and natural sweetness.

I am drooling thinking about the leftovers in the fridge. I can't wait to make and eat more.

Fiery chickpea and butter bean pasta simmered in vegetable stock with hot chili peppers and jalapeños. A hearty, protein-packed vegan pasta that brings serious heat in just 30 minutes.

Fried Monterey Jack cheese bites with a garlic and Italian seasoning filling, double-breaded and fried in garlic-infused peanut oil. Served with marinara for dipping.

Tuna and olive spaghetti tossed with marinara, garlic, Greek olives, and Italian oil-packed tuna. Pantry pasta ready in 25 minutes.

Oyster-artichoke soup is a New Orleans classic with briny oysters, tender artichoke hearts, and a butter-flour roux base. Make it a day ahead so the flavors deepen overnight before reheating.

Traditional muffuletta sandwich with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad piled on a round crusty loaf. New Orleans street food legend that feeds four with simple, bold flavors.